Separator for storage batteries.



f R. N. GHAMBERLAIN. SEPARATOB Ton STORAGE BATTERIES.

. APPvLIOATlON FILED MAY 11, 1906.

Patented Dee. 2 9, 1908.

plates of opposite polarity from each other.

' such mat-erial as rubber and celluloid.

RUFUs N. OHAMBERLAIN, 0F DEPEW, NEw YORK, AssIGNOR OFFICE.

SEPARATOR FOR STORAGE BATTERIES.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUFUs N. CHAMBER- LAIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Depew, in the county Of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Separators for Storage Bat' l teries, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that kind of Separators for storage batteries or accumulatore which are made of pervious material of a nature to offer but little resistance to the electrolytio action, while at the same time completely separating and insulating the battery Such separators have been made of various materia s, wood and earthenware being commonly employed, but none of the known separators are entirely satisfactory. Some, for instance those made of wood, are not s ufliciently acid proof to last a reasonable length of time, and others that are acid proof, such as those made of carthenware, are too brittle for-ordinary service, or are too expensive to manufacture.

The Object of this invention is to produce a durable, economical and eflicient separator combining the desirable features ofthe different known kinds of pervious separators, that 1s a separator having the durability, porosity and acld repelhng qualities of the vitrified earthenware separator, and also the ilexib1l1tT winch is the chief advantage of the non-pervlous flexible separators made of Io this end the separator comprises a plurality of sections of relatively rigid or brittle pervlous material confined in a relatively llexlble frame or holder, whereby the separator'is given a sufficient flexibility to allow 1t to accommodate itself to the slight movements or changes in form of the battery p lates without breaking the pervious sectlons.- In .the accompanying drawings Figure 1 1s a slde elevation of a separator embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectlonal elevation thereof in line '2-2, Fig. 1. llg. 3 1s a cross-sectional elevation thereof in llne 3 3, Fig. 1.

lLike letters 'of reference refer to likeparts in the several figures.

The separator consists of a plurality of sections A of suitable non-conducting material, such, for instance, as pottery, earthen- Specification of Letters Patent. 'Application med my 11, 1905. serie No. 259,980.

.acter of the material, and

r PatentedDee. 29,1908.

ware or wood, and a holder or frame B of some suitable, relatively flexible, acid proof or semi-acid Celluloid. The sections sheets or plates which areable extent by reason of A consist of thin pervious to a suitthe pervious charalso, if desired, by reason of perforations or openings formed in the plates in any suitable manner. The seotions are preferably reinforced by ribs a or other suitable projections in any desired manner. The drawing illustrates several different ways of arranging such ribs on the plates, for instance, the section A at the upper left-hand corner of the separator is provided with horizontal ribs on 'one side and with upright ribs on the opposite side, which provide circulating channels for the electrolyte, while the section A at the lower lefthand corner of the separator'is provided with vertical ribs on one side only, the other side being plane, and the other sections show still different arrangements of the ribs. L

In the separator illustrated in the drawings, the pervious sections, of which there are four, are of rectangular shape and are secured in the correspondingly shaped spaces formed between the side and end bars b b and the cross bars b2 b3 of the rectan ular frame B, but the number and shape o the sections and their relative arrangement in the frame is immaterial and may differ as the size or intended use may render desirable.

A simple and effective way of securing the pervious sections in the frame is shown in the drawings. Each section has two opposite forwardly-facing beveled edges c which bear against corresponding rearwardly beveled faces on one side bar b and one cross bar b2 of the frame, and two opposite rearwardly beveled edges c which bear againstforwardly beveled edges on the other two frame bars so proof material, su'ch as rubber or.

l To eoULD STORAGE BATTERY COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

that the section cannot be dislodged from the frame. The separator thus constructed can be conveniently made by laying the pervious sections in a mold with spaces between them, filling the spaces with rubber, celluloid or analogous material in a plastic condition, and

or hardening the plastic material until sulciently firm .to properly then vulcanizing hold the sections. The' frame can, however, be made and the' sections secured therein in any other suitable manner.

The described construction produces a very desirable and durable separator. The

small sections of pervious material are not so liable to be broken as a single large piece of the same material; and they can be produced at much less expe se than larger pieces. As the frame' connec ing the sections is flexible the separator as a Whole has more or less flexibility ypermitting enough distortion thereof to allow for slight movements and changes in form of the battery plates. Thus the separator affords the known advanta es of the frail and brittle pervious materia such as pottery or earthenware, and yet has the chiefadvantage, that is the flexibility, of the less desirable separators made of flexible nonervious material, such as rubber, or cellu oid.

l claim as my invention:

1. A. separator for accumulators, comprising a plurality of separate sections of relatively rigid non conducting material arranged substantially in the same plane, and a flexible holder of non-conducting material for retainingsaid sections in place, whereby the separatoru as a whole is somewhat flexible, substantially as set forth.

2. A separatorfor accumulators, comprising a plurality of sections of relatively rigid non-conducting material arranged substantially edge to edge, and a frame of insulating material composed forming compartments in which said sections are confined,` whereby the separator as a whole has some flexibility, substantially as set forth.

` 3. A. separator for accumulators, comprisof .slender flexible bars.

ing' a flexible frame of insulating material havingv slender circumferential and crssbars formingl intervening spaces, and a plurality of sections of relatively rigid non-conducting pervious material confined in the spaces between said frame bars, substan tially as set forth.

4. A separator for accumulators, comprising a frame having bars forming intervening spaces, and a plurality of sections of relatively rigid non-conducting material held in the spaces between said frame bars, said frame bars which extend at an angle to each. other at 'adjacent sides of each section having beveled edges facing-l 'and cooperating wit oppositely facing beveled edges on the section7 substantially as set forth.

l 5. A separator for accumulators, comprising a fieXible frame having bars forming in- ,i

tervening spaces, and a plurality of sections of relatively rigid nonconducting pervious material held in the spaces between said frame bars, said frame bars which extend at an angle to each other at adjacent sides of each section having beveled edges facing in opposite directions and cooperating with oppositely facing beveled edges on the section, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 6th day of May,

RUFUS N. CHAMBERLAlN.

Witnesses:

EDWARD WILHELM, l C. B. HORNBECK.

in opposite directions 

